Mohamed Bamba believes Suns would be playoff contender with him

Jun 1, 2018, 4:16 PM | Updated: Jun 2, 2018, 10:43 pm

Texas forward Mohamed Bamba (4) runs up court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Arizona Sports

The talk surrounding the No. 1 overall pick for the Phoenix Suns is mostly around Arizona center Deandre Ayton and Real Madrid wing Luka Doncic.

On Evan Daniels’ podcast The Sidelines, though, Texas center Mohamed Bamba sees the logic in himself being someone for the Suns to prioritize because of how NBA ready he believes he is.

“I truly believe I’m a guy that can get up to speed the quickest and have the most immediate impact,” he said. “That franchise is honestly … I believe they’re a playoff contender with me in that lineup.”

Bamba is projected as a potential top-five pick.

Earlier on in his answer about the top spot of the draft, Bamba went more in-depth on the Suns and how he stacks up compared to today’s defensive centers.

“It’s very critical for [Phoenix] to draft the most reliable player, with the highest ceiling, who can also make an immediate impact,” Bamba said. “I’m not trying to be very boastful of my abilities and I’m not trying to be cocky or anything, but there’s only five guys in the league today that can protect the rim better than I can right now.

“I think that’s really what Phoenix needs most. They have guys like Devin, Josh, Elfrid and TJ and those guys are really great at scoring the ball but they need a guy like me who can change the geometry of the game.”

The 19-year-old was very thoughtful with his response, detailing what he sees that could help his development.

“A lot of that comes from defense and it’s just … Phoenix would be an awesome fit because you have guys like Tyson Chandler who is an amazing rebounder, an amazing vet who makes hustle plays,” he said.

Bamba watched The Players’ Tribune series “Rookie/Vet” chronicling Chandler’s relationship with Devin Booker and also knows new coach Igor Kokoskov spent time helping Rudy Gobert develop into a dominant rim protector.

“They have vets and they have the pieces to teach me and bring me in so the transitioning could be very smooth going into it.”

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Texas Tech guard Zhaire Smith (2) drives while defended by West Virginia forward Lamont West (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)

Georgia Tech's Josh Ogokie grabs a steal during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Clemson Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

Oregon State forward Drew Eubanks (12) shoots a free throw during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Notre Dame forward Bonzie Colson (35) fights for the rebound with Monmouth center Zac Tillman (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.)

Wake Forest's Bryant Crawford (13) brings the ball up the court against Clemson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Duke's Trevon Duval, right, talks with teammate Wendell Carter Jr during the second half of a regional final game against Kansas in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

George Washington forward Yuta Watanabe, top left, shoots a layup while being defended by Wichita State forward Darius Carter (12) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

Southern California guard Elijah Stewart (30) drives on Arizona guard Kobi Simmons during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Vanderbilt forward Jeff Roberson (11) drives against Arizona State forward Mickey Mitchell in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec 17, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Southern California guard Jordan McLaughlin, middle, passes the ball between Arizona guard Allonzo Trier and Ryan Anderson (12) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Bonaventure Bonnies Jaylen Adams (10) celebrates following a basket during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against VCU at the Reilly Center in St. Bonaventure, New York, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. St. Bonaventure defeated VCU 73-71. (AP Photo/Jen Fuller)

Tryggvi Hlinason, C, Valencia

3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

"It was fine. It was my first workout so I really didn't know what to expect. It was good. It was really good."
(Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

Arizona center Dusan Ristic (14) is fouled while trying to drive between Stanford's Reid Travis, left, and Daejon Davis during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated Stanford 75-67. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State

10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a freshman

“Just me being out there gives them a lot of room to operate just because I’m a threat from outside. When D-Book penetrates, he can kick it out to me and if they stay with me, then he has a lot more room.” (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Duke's Marvin Bagley III (35) shoots over Kansas' Silvio De Sousa (22) during the first half of a regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Villanova's Jalen Brunson (1) shoots during a practice session for the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 30, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Amine Noua, F, France

10.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in France this season.

(Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP)

Seton Hall forward Desi Rodriguez listens to a question during a news conference for their NCAA men's college basketball tournament second-round game against Kansas, Friday, March 16, 2018, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Marcus Derrickson, F, Georgetown

15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game as a junior.

(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Oregon's Troy Brown Jr., left, and Arizona State's Shannon Evans II race for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2018, file photo, Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) shoots in the second half during an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado, in Tucson, Ariz. Ayton could be the Phoenix Suns choice with the no. 1 pick in this month's NBA Draft. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

West Virginia's Jevon Carter (2) passes over Baylor's Manu Lecomte during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Big 12 men's tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Elie Okobo, G, LNB Pro A French league

12.9 points, 4.8 assists with 47.5 percent 2-point and 39.4 percent 3-point shooting.

"(Scouts) think I'm very mature because I play against pros. They like my passing game, my scoring ability and the way I play on the court."
(Martti Kainulainen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Kentucky's Wenyen Gabriel celebrates after making a thee-point basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball semifinal game against Alabama at the Southeastern Conference tournament Saturday, March 10, 2018, in St. Louis. Kentucky won 86-63. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

UCLA's Thomas Welsh reaches for a rebound during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Arizona in the semifinals of the Pac-12 men's tournament Friday, March 9, 2018, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 78-67 in overtime. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

North Carolina's Joel Berry II, left, and Lipscomb's Greg Jones, right, battle for a loose ball during the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Arizona's Rawle Alkins dunks over Southern California's Elijah Stewart during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 75-61. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Allonzo Trier, from Arizona, talks to reporters during the NBA basketball draft combine Thursday, May 17, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

USC guard De'Anthony Melton (22) passes as Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Wichita State guard Landry Shamet (11) goes up for a shot in front of Temple guard Josh Brown (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament, Friday, March 9, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Usama Zaid, G, Vancouver Island University

26.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 40 percent from the three-point line as a senior

"Well in terms of the reputation of where I come from, absolutely (it's an uphill climb). In terms of basketball, I feel like basketball is about the work ethic and what you put into it. Playing against these guys, (the talent of the workout partners) doesn't feel far superior to me."

(@CCAAsportsACSC / Twitter)

Rhode Island guard E.C. Matthews (0) shoots in front of Davidson forward Oskar Michelsen (15) and guard KiShawn Pritchett (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Southern California forward Chimezie Metu dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ohio State forward Keita Bates-Diop, right, looks to pass around the defense of Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura (21) during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

Kansas guard Malik Newman, left, drives to the basket over Villanova's Mikal Bridges, center, and Omari Spellman, right, during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 31, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Colorado guard George King, front, drives past Arizona State guard Kodi Justice during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Xavier guard J.P. Macura (55) goes for a basket over Florida State guard CJ Walker (2), during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Virginia's Devon Hall (0) takes questions from the media in the locker room after losing to UMBC in a first-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Cincinnati guard Jacob Evans (1) pulls in a rebound against Georgia State forward Jordan Session, right, in the second half of a first-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

SMU guard Shake Milton (1) drives to the basket while guarded by Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) during an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island, Bahamas. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services Photo via AP)

UCLA's Aaron Holiday (3) shoots against St. Bonaventure's Matt Mobley (2) during the first half of a First Four game of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Tuesday, March 13, 2018, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Xavier guard Trevon Bluiett (5) drives past Texas Southern guard Donte Clark (1) in the first half of a first-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Shannon Evans, G, Arizona State
16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals per game as a senior
“If you’re lucky, you might get seven, eight years out of this so I just want to play as long as I can."

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Bruce Brown Jr., G, Miami

11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game as a sophomore

"You want to come out here and definitely kill them. That was my goal, come out and kill, do what I normally do.
"My work ethic, my love for the game can carry me." (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Arizona State's Tra Holder shoots covered by Colorado's McKinley Wright IV during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

William McDowell-White, G, Brose Bamberg (Australia)
"(Playing professionally in Germany) It definitely helped me mature a lot above my years and just mature as a person away from the court. Germany was probably the best decision I made. I think I improved a lot more rather than coming to college."

(Ally Sturm / Twitter)

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia in the finals of the Big 12 men's tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Kentucky guard Hamidou Diallo reacts after a dunk against Buffalo during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

Kansas' Devonte' Graham, left, celebrates as he runs past Duke's Gary Trent Jr. in the final seconds of overtime of a regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. Kansas won 85-81 in overtime. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Anfernee Simons, G, High school
“(I want to) gradually get stronger, I don’t want to bulk up too quick. It comes with age.

“Show them I can play, hold my own, play defense, score the ball, pass the ball." (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Kendrick Nunn, G, Oakland

25.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game as a senior (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Alan Herndon, F, Wyoming
11.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.2 blocks per game as a senior
"Throughout these workouts I want to showcase I'm a Swiss army knife. I can do it all. I like to guard multiple positions, step out and shoot the three, just do it all."

(AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

Arizona State's Kodi Justice passes under Colorado's Tyler Bey during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 7, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Penn State guard Tony Carr (10) drives against Utah forward Donnie Tillman (3) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college basketball game for the NIT championship Thursday, March 29, 2018, in New York. Penn State won 82-66. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Temple's Obi Enechionyia (0) goes to the basket as Penn State's Satchel Pierce (3) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the first round of the NIT in State College, Pa., Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)

Iowa State's Lindell Wigginton, left, goes up to shoot over Ou's Khadeem Lattin in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March 2, 2018, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

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